Soccer Training Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a soccer training device built with elbow connectors, a frame with a top frame, a pair of upper frames, a pair of lower frames, and a bottom frame, all with opposite ends that fit into the elbows. The ends of said elbow connectors can have releasable connectors that mate with corresponding connectors on the ends of the frame pieces. A target area is attached to the frame and has aiming areas with numbers that can indicate point value. The aiming areas can be of equal sizes. The soccer ball has an outer covering of the loop fabric of hook and loop fabric. The target area can be attached to the frame a pair of fabric strips having hook and loop fabric or male and female clasps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many offerings exist by which the sports training is accomplished. Thedevices offered, however, do not solve all problems associated withtraining for soccer players. When standard goals are modified fortraining, then portability is lost. Additionally, when standard goalsare used, the goals must be modified or changed in some mannerincreasing the effort and time involved and decreasing the potentialtime for practice.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a soccer training device for use inconnection with goal shooting practice. The soccer training device hasparticular utility in connection with increasing the enjoyment andefficiency of goal shooting practice.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of soccer training devices is known in the prior art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,043 to Vidinic discloses a game forpracticing soccer skills. However, the Vidinic '043 patent does notprovide the frame found in the present invention, and is more directedtowards developing footwork and aiming skills through the use of aspecial shoe or additions to the player's shoe. The invention works tolink the area of the foot the ball is struck with to the area of thetarget the ball strikes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,725 to Leras et al. discloses a soccer shootingtraining target that has aiming areas. However, the Leras et al. '725patent does not cover the entire area of a soccer goal, and additionallydoes not catch, or retain the ball where is hits.

Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,147 to Pallanca discloses a soccer targetthat provides aiming areas. However the Pallanca '147 patent is moredifficult to assemble and is more likely to be permanently installed,therefore not conducive to quick assembly and easy storage.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective andparticular objects and requirements, they do not describe a soccertraining device that provides for the advantages of the presentinvention; therefore, a need exists for an improved soccer trainingdevice, particularly one that includes portability, ease of set-up anduse, and the ability to increase the potential of players to enjoysoccer practice by the playing of scoring games.

In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofsoccer training device now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides an improved soccer training device, and overcomes theabove-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such,the general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved soccertraining device which has all the advantages of the prior art mentionedheretofore and many novel features that result in a soccer trainingdevice which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or evenimplied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a number ofelbow connectors having main bodies and opposite ends. The frame is madefrom a top frame member, a pair of upper and lower frame members, and abottom frame member. The frame members all have opposite ends thatattach to the ends of the elbows. The ends of the elbow connectors canhave releasable connectors that would mate with corresponding connectorson the opposite ends of the frame members. The frame can be made fromtubular pipe, and could measure approximately 1.3 meters high by 1.6meters wide. The frame supports a target area attached to the frame unitthrough connection means.

The soccer ball can have an outer covering of the loop fabric of hookand loop fabric. The target area is made from a flexible backingmaterial and can be made from the hook fabric of hook and loop fabric.The target area can be demarcated, or arranged into aiming areas. Theselines demarcating the target area could be configured in a mannersimilar to a tic-tac-toe board to create a series of nine rectangularsections arranged in three columns and three rows. The aiming areas canbe of equal sizes, or the areas can be of varied sizes. The target areawould be sized to fit the frame, and given the above dimensions, wouldalso measure approximately 1.3 meters high by 1.6 meters wide.

The connection means can be a pair of fabric strips on the outer edge ofthe target area. One of the fabric strips would have hook fabric and theother strip would have the mating loop fabric, or one of the fabricstrips would have the male clasp and the other strip would have themating female clasp.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

The invention may also include numbers to indicate point value on theaiming areas of the target area. The numbers also serve to indicate therelative degree of difficulty in accurately aiming at and scoring inthose regions of the goal. In this instance, the right and left columnscould be labeled 80, 70, and 60 from top to bottom, while the centercolumn could be labeled 60, 50 and 40 from top to bottom. Additionally,the aiming areas can be color differentiated to aide concentration andfocus. There are of course, additional features of the invention thatwill be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter ofthe claims attached.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved soccer training device that has all of the advantages of theprior art soccer training devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved soccer training device that may be easily and efficientlymanufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved soccer training device that has a low cost of manufacture withregard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is thensusceptible to low prices of sale to the consuming public, therebymaking such soccer training device economically available to the buyingpublic.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new soccertraining device that provides in the apparatuses and methods of theprior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneouslyovercoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide asoccer training device for practicing aiming and scoring skills that ismarked with clear targets at which to aim. This allows honing of themotor skills involved in goal shooting.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a soccertraining device that has a soccer ball that adheres to the target areawhere it strikes, to clearly indicate the region of the target area thatit struck.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a soccertraining device that is portable. This makes it possible to practiceshooting in areas that do not have soccer fields nearby. Additionally,the present invention is lightweight and easy to set-up, thus providingthe opportunity to practice almost anywhere.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved soccer training device with numbers on the target aiming areato encourage players to practice aiming skills, either by attempting toscore the most points, being the first to reach a set number of pointsusing the least kicks, or as in the dart games 301 and the like, beingthe first player to score out by reaching zero through the subtractionof points.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the soccertraining device so that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the soccer training devicewill be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art uponreading the following detailed description of presently preferred, butnonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the soccer training device whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect,before explaining the current embodiments of the soccer training devicein detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of construction and arrangements of thecomponents set forth in the following description or illustration. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon whichthis disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for thedesign of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out theseveral purposes of the soccer training device. It is thereforeimportant that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

These together with additional objects of the soccer training device,along with various novel features that characterize the invention areparticularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of thisdisclosure. For better understanding of the soccer training device, itsoperating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer tothe accompanying drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set8 forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed 9 description thereof. Such description makesreference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the soccertraining device constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention, showing the device in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the soccer training device, with thetarget area removed, and optional frame stabilizers in use.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the elbow connector of the soccer trainingdevice disconnected from the frame, and showing the use of matingconnectors on the elbow and frame ends.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the soccer training device, showing thetarget area disconnected from the frame, the soccer ball, and sandbagsused as stabilizers.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the soccer training device, takenessentially along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1, showing the attachment of thetarget area to the frame.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the storage bag of the soccer trainingdevice.

The same reference numbers refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the soccertraining device of the present invention is shown and generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10.

In FIG. 1, a new and improved soccer training device 10 of the presentinvention for goal training for soccer players is illustrated and willbe described. More particularly, the soccer training device 10 has aplurality of elbow connectors 12 that connect the frame unit 20. Theframe unit 20 is a top frame member 22 having opposite ends 24 and 26, apair of upper frame members 28 a and 28 b having opposite ends 30 and32, a pair of lower frame members 34 a and 34 b having opposite ends 36and 38, and a bottom frame member 40 having opposite ends 42 and 44. Theopposite ends 16 and 18 of the elbow connectors 12 attach to theopposite ends 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42, and 44 of the members of theframe unit 20. The ends of the elbow connectors 16 can have releasableconnectors 52 that mate with corresponding connectors 54 on the oppositeends 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42, and 44 of the members of the frame unit20. The target area 46 is attached to the frame unit 20 throughconnection means 48, and the target area 46 can be the hook fabric ofhook and loop fabric. The connection means 48 can be a pair of fabricstrips on the target area 46, and one of the fabric strips has hookfabric and the other strip has the mating loop fabric. Alternatively,the connector means 48 can be fabric strips having male and femaleclasps. The soccer ball 50 can have an outer covering of the loop fabricof hook and loop fabric. The target area 46 can be demarcated intoaiming areas 56, and the aiming areas 56 can have numeric indicia 58,for example to indicate point value of striking that area. The aimingareas 56 can be of equal sizes, or can be larger or smaller than eachother, as desired, to increase the relative difficulty of the pointaccrual.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the soccer training device, with thetarget area 46 removed, and optional frame stabilizers in use. The elbowconnectors 12 have a main body 14, and opposite ends 16 and 18, thatconnect to the opposite ends 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42, and 44 of theframe unit 20. The frame unit 20 is a top frame member 22, havingopposite ends 24 and 26, a pair of upper frame members 28 a and 28 bhaving opposite ends 30 and 32, a pair of lower frame members 34 a and34 b having opposite ends 36 and 38, and a bottom frame member 40 havingopposite ends 42 and 44.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the elbow connector 12 of the soccertraining device disconnected from one of the frame members of the frameunit 20. The elbow connectors 12, main body 14 and opposite ends 16 and18 are shown, and one of the opposite ends 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38, 42,and 44 of the members of the frame unit 20 is shown. The ends of theelbow connectors 16 can have releasable connectors 52 that mate withcorresponding connectors 54 on the opposite ends 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 38,42, and 44 of the frame unit 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the soccer training device, showing thetarget area 46 disconnected from the frame unit 20, the soccer ball 50,and sandbags used as stabillizers. The soccer ball 50 can have an outercovering of the loop fabric from hook and loop type fabric. Theconnection means 48 can be a pair of fabric strips on the target area46, and one of the fabric strips has hook fabric and the other strip hasthe mating loop fabric. Alternatively, the connection means 48 can befabric strips having male and female clasps. The soccer ball can have anouter covering of the loop fabric of hook and loop fabric. The targetarea 46 can be the hook fabric of hook and loop fabric. The target area46 can be demarcated into aiming areas 56, and the aiming areas 56 canhave numeric indicia 58, to indicate point value for example. The aimingareas 56 can be of equal sizes, or can be larger or smaller than eachother to increase the relative difficulty of the point accrual.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the soccer training device, takenessentially along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1, showing the attachment of thetarget area 46 to the frame unit 20. The connection means 48 can be apair of fabric strips on the target area 46, and one of the fabricstrips has hook fabric and the other strip has the mating loop fabric.Alternatively, the connection means 48 can be fabric strips having maleand female clasps. The target area 46 can be the hook fabric and thesoccer ball 50 can have an outer covering of the loop fabric of hook andloop fabric. The soccer ball 50 is shown adhered to the target area 46through the interlocking mechanism inherent in the interaction betweenhook and loop fabric.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the storage bag of the soccer trainingdevice, and is used to store the frame unit 20, the target area 40 andthe soccer ball 50 when not in use.

The soccer training device has a plurality of elbow connectors thatconnect the frame unit together. The frame unit is a top frame member, apair of upper frame members, a pair of lower frame members, and a bottomframe member. The opposite ends of the elbow connectors attach to theopposite ends of the members of the frame unit. The ends of the elbowconnectors can have releasable connectors that mate with correspondingconnectors on the opposite ends of the members of the frame unit. Thetarget area is attached to the frame unit through connection means. Theconnection means can be a pair of fabric strips on the target area, andthe fabric strips have hook and loop or the strips can have male andfemale clasps. The soccer ball can have an outer covering of the loopfabric of hook and loop fabric and the target area can be the hookfabric of hook and loop fabric. The target area can be demarcated intoequally sized aiming areas, and the aiming areas can have numericindicia, for example to indicate point value of striking that area.

In one way to play using the soccer training device to practice aimingand scoring skills, the players would stand at a predetermined distancefrom the goal frame and take turns kicking the soccer ball at the targetarea. When the soccer ball strikes the target area, the loop fabriccovering the ball would adhere to the hook fabric covering the targetarea. The player would then be awarded the number of points displayed inthe section in which the ball struck. The player who scores the mostpoints within a predetermined number of kicks, or who reaches apredetermined score in the fewest kicks, would be declared the winner.

In use, it can now be understood that the soccer training device isuseful for practicing soccer skills through the demarcation of thetarget area into discrete target zones. The soccer training device alsoincreases the players enjoyment of practice through the addition of thechallenge of scoring higher point values for the harder to hit targets,as indicated by higher point values. The soccer training device is alsolightweight and easily assembled, thus increasing the opportunities forpractice.

While a preferred embodiment of the soccer training device has beendescribed in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andvariations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above descriptionthen, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationshipsfor the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art,and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention. For example, the tubes used for the frame may be madeof metal, heavy-duty plastic, or similar material. Furthermore, a widevariety of games may be played instead of the scoring games described.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A soccer training device comprising a plurality of elbow connectorshaving a main body and opposite ends; a frame unit being a top framemember having opposite ends, a pair of upper frame members havingopposite ends, a pair of lower frame members having opposite ends, and abottom frame member having opposite ends; a target area attached to saidframe unit through connection means; a soccer ball.
 2. The soccertraining device of claim 1 wherein said ends of said elbow connectorshave releasable connectors that mate with corresponding connectors onsaid opposite ends of said frame members.
 3. The soccer training deviceof claim 1 wherein said target area is the hook fabric of hook and loopfabric.
 4. The soccer training device of claim 1 wherein said targetarea is demarcated into aiming areas.
 5. The soccer training device ofclaim 4 wherein said aiming areas have numeric indicia.
 6. The soccertraining device of claim 4 wherein said aiming areas are of equal sizes.7. The soccer training device of claim 1 wherein said connection meansare a pair of fabric strips on said target area, wherein one of saidfabric strips has hook fabric and the other strip has the mating loopfabric.
 8. The soccer training device of claim 1 wherein said connectionmeans are a pair of fabric strips on said target area, wherein one ofsaid fabric strips has the male clasp and the other strip has the matingfemale clasp.
 9. The soccer training device of claim 1 wherein saidsoccer ball has an outer covering of the loop fabric of hook and loopfabric.
 10. A soccer training device comprising: a plurality of elbowconnectors having a main body and opposite ends; a frame unit being atop frame member having opposite ends, a pair of upper frame membershaving opposite ends, a pair of lower frame members having oppositeends, and a bottom frame member having opposite ends; a target areaattached to said frame unit through connection means; a soccer ball,wherein said soccer ball has an outer covering of the loop fabric ofhook and loop fabric.
 11. The soccer training device of claim 10 whereinsaid ends of said elbow connectors have releasable connectors that matewith corresponding connectors on said opposite ends of said framemembers.
 12. The soccer training device of claim 10 wherein said targetarea is demarcated into aiming areas.
 13. The soccer training device ofclaim 12 wherein said aiming areas have numeric indicia.
 14. The soccertraining device of claim 12 wherein said aiming areas are of equalsizes.
 15. The soccer training device of claim 10 wherein saidconnection means are a pair of fabric strips on said target area,wherein one of said fabric strips has hook fabric and the other striphas the mating loop fabric.
 16. The soccer training device of claim 10wherein said connection means are a pair of fabric strips on said targetarea, wherein one of said fabric strips has the male clasp and the otherstrip has the mating female clasp.
 17. A soccer training devicecomprising: a plurality of elbow connectors having a main body andopposite ends; a frame unit being a top frame member having oppositeends, a pair of upper frame members having opposite ends, a pair oflower frame members having opposite ends, and a bottom frame memberhaving opposite ends; a target area attached to said frame unit throughconnection means; a soccer ball, wherein said soccer ball has an outercovering of the loop fabric of hook and loop fabric.
 18. The soccertraining device of claim 17 wherein said target area is demarcated intoaiming areas, wherein said aiming areas have numeric indicia.
 19. Thesoccer training device of claim 18 wherein said aiming areas are ofequal sizes.
 20. The soccer training device of claim 17 wherein saidconnection means are a pair of fabric strips on said target area,wherein one of said fabric strips has hook fabric and the other striphas the mating loop fabric or one of said fabric strips has the maleclasp and the other strip has the mating female clasp.